Methods in advertising systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods in server applications providing releasing an ad, updating ad information of an ad for a dedicated ad space of a web site and maintaining that ad information of a release of an ad is kept updated. The methods provide numerous advantages of enabling up-dating an ad in essentially real-time, easiness to update of an ad being presented, to mention a few only.

1 . A method in a server application of releasing an ad for a dedicated ad space of a web site, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining advertiser input data comprising data of selecting the dedicated ad space,   receiving ad information defining the ad from the advertiser,   generating a web based ad file based on the received advertiser input data by an ad server, wherein the web based ad file is configured to disclose the ad when being linked to,   storing the web based ad file in a storage unit accessible from a web server,   determining in the web based ad file a connection to the received ad information, and   linking a web address of the dedicated ad space and the web based ad file, for releasing the ad in the dedicated ad space essentially in real-time by a web server upon visiting the web site comprising the dedicated ad space.   
     
     
         2 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining advertiser input data further comprises obtaining selection of a web based ad file template having data fields for defining the web based ad file, and wherein the step of generating a web based ad file comprises generating the web based ad file using the web based ad file template, based on advertiser input data. 
     
     
         3 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad of according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving ad information comprises receiving text data, and wherein the method further comprises storing the received text data in a database. 
     
     
         4 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad of according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving ad information comprises receiving image data, and wherein the method further comprises storing the received image data in a data storage that is accessible by the web server. 
     
     
         5 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining advertiser input data, comprises obtaining data related to the size of the dedicated ad space. 
     
     
         6 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of linking the web address of the dedicated ad space and the web based ad file, comprises providing an uplink from the web address of the dedicated ad space via a proxy web page redirecting the uplink from the web address of the dedicated ad space to said web based ad file. 
     
     
         7 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of linking the web address of the dedicated ad space and the web based ad file, comprises providing a downlink from the web based ad file to the web address of the dedicated ad space, for providing a direct access for the web based ad file to the web address of the dedicated ad space. 
     
     
         8 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad according to  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining meta tags related to the ad information, enabling indexing of the web based ad file by search engines. 
     
     
         9 . The method in a server application of releasing an ad according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the ad information comprises receiving an address of a dataflow of ad information. 
     
     
         10 . A method in a server application of updating ad information of an ad for a dedicated ad space of a web site, wherein a web address of the dedicated ad space is linked to a web based ad file configured to disclose the ad when being linked to, where the ad is based on ad information that is stored and accessible by the web based ad file, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving first ad information,   obtaining information at least related to second ad information stored in a data source,   comparing first ad information and the information at least related to second ad information stored in the data source, and   updating the second ad information stored in the data source according to the received first ad information, in the case a difference is determined in the comparison,   
       so that the ad based on second ad information is being updated essentially in real-time. 
     
     
         11 . The method in a server application for updating ad information according to  claim 10 , further comprises storing said first ad information in a database, wherein storing creates time related data that is related to time of storing said first ad information. 
     
     
         12 . The method in a server application for updating ad information according to  claim 11 , wherein time related data that is created in the step of storing said first ad information in a database, comprises a counter or a time stamp. 
     
     
         13 . The method in a server application for updating ad information according to  claim 10 , wherein ad information in the step of receiving first ad information comprises an ad information selection indicator. 
     
     
         14 . The method in a server application for updating ad information according to  claim 13 , wherein the ad information selection indicator comprises an event related logical flag or a unique parameter value. 
     
     
         15 . A method in a server application for maintaining that ad information of a release of an ad is kept updated, essentially in real-time for a dedicated ad space of a web site, wherein a web address of the dedicated ad space is linked to a web based ad file configured to disclose the ad when being linked to, where the ad is based on ad information that is stored and accessible by the web based ad file, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining information at least related to first ad information,   obtaining information at least related to second ad information stored in a data source,   comparing data fields or time related data of information at least related to first ad information and the information at least related to second ad information stored in the data source, and   updating the access to ad information in the web based ad file, based on said comparison of data fields or time related data.   
     
     
         16 . The method in a server application for maintaining that ad information of a release of an ad is kept updated according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of updating comprises updating the access to the first ad information, in the case a difference is detected in the data fields or in said time related data. 
     
     
         17 . The method in a server application for maintaining that ad information of a release of an ad is kept updated according to  claim 15 , further comprising obtaining detection of an event, and wherein the step of updating comprises updating the access to ad information related to the detected event. 
     
     
         18 . The method in a server application for maintaining that ad information of a release of an ad is kept updated according to  claim 17 , where the ad information related to the detected event comprises a first ad information selection indicator, and wherein the step of updating comprises updating the access to ad information related to the detected event, is performed according to the first ad information selection indicator. 
     
     
         19 . The method in a server application for maintaining that ad information of a release of an ad is kept updated according to  claim 18 , wherein the first ad information selection indicator comprises an event related logical flag or a unique parameter value.